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Kobe Marathon Plans to Return This November Without International Entries


Canceled for the last two years amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the organizing committee of the Kobe Marathon announced on Mar. 30 that the race will return for its tenth running on Nov. 20 with a field of 20,000 entrants. Entries open in mid-June, with 1500 spots reserved for people who failed to get into the entry lottery for the last five consecutive editions.

The race will be run on its traditional course starting in front of Kobe City Hall, turning around on the west side of Akashi Kaikyo Bridge and finishing at Port Island. As measures to reduce crowding, starting corrals will be increased from 13 to 20 and more drink stations will be added. As per JAAF guidelines, spectators will be discouraged from cheering for the runners along the course, but viewing stations will be set up in parks located on the course.

Michiaki Yoshii, chair of the organizing committee and head of the Hyogo Prefecture Athletics Association, said, "We hope that this will be the first step in being able to hold races in co-existence with corona, and that our citizens will help raise the excitement level with their enthusiastic cheering."

Last December Hyogo governor Motohiko Saito, an executive member of the organizing committee, announced that the prefectural government would step back from its involvement in organizing the race and take on a sponsorship role as of the Kobe Marathon's 11th running, but further details about the situation were not available or brought up at the Mar. 30 meeting.

Translator's note: This article doesn't mention the simultaneous announcement on the Kobe Marathon website that the event will not accept entries from outside Japan for this year's race. The Kobe Marathon is one of only two Japanese races with a World Athletics elite label currently on the fall calendar.

source article:
translated by Brett Larner

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